Buffalo cabbie had no valid driver's license

August 11, 2009

The attorney for the Buffalo cabdriver who has accused Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin of robbing and attacking him in a dispute over a cab fare acknowledged this morning that his client has a drunk driving conviction and was driving on a suspended license at the time of the incident.

Nevertheless, lawyer Andrew LoTempio told WGN-720 AM he believes cabbie Jan Radecki, 62, is entitled to compensation and expressed hope a settlement could be reached out of court.

Ken Brown, a spokesman for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, told the Tribune this afternoon Radecki had been driving on a revoked license since 1998.

In December of that year, Brown said, Radecki's license was revoked when he refused to submit to a chemical (or Breathalyzer) test. He was then given a "conditional license" following that incident, but that was revoked in April 1999 when he was charged with driving while intoxicated.

LoTempio told WGN today that he represented Radecki in 1999 when his client was accused of driving while intoxicated. As a result of that case, the attorney said, Radecki went into Alcoholics Anonymous. He told the Buffalo News that his client has not had a drink since then.

The News reported that Radecki, who has had a cab license in the City of Buffalo since May 1996, became licensed with the city for a Chrysler minivan in 2003.

LoTempio indicated that he believed the issue with Radecki's license, which he said was suspended, was a mistake and said Radecki was at the state Department of Motor Vehicles today trying to resolve it. He said the problem may have resulted because Radecki "goes by a couple of different names."

Brown could not comment on LoTiempo's explanation of his client's predicament with his driver's license, saying that he can only comment on the information currently listed in Radecki's driving record, which indicates his license was revoked.

LoTempio's comment on WGN today about seeking compensation from Kane comes a day after he told the station he thought the whole incident involving Kane and his cousin had been "blown out of proportion" and should not be considered a felony. At that time, he called the altercation a "regular kid incident."

He indicated the confrontation escalated after Radecki refused to unlock the cab's doors until he got his fare.